Leyte lawyers condemn shooting of ‘narco’ mayor’s legal counsel

TACLOBAN CITY, Aug. 24(PNA)-- The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Leyte chapter condemned the killing of one of its member, Atty. Rogelio Bato Jr., the lawyer of embattled Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa.

Former IBP Leyte chapter president Alberto Hidalgo has called on his fellow lawyers in the province to join in condemning the brutal killing of Bato on Tuesday afternoon.

“I call on IBP members to wear black armband while in courts until the day of interment of our brother lawyer Atty. Rogelio Bato Jr.,” Hidalgo said.

“Let us show our total condemnation of this serious affront to our legal system, legal processes and the law profession.”

Hidalgo challenged the government to thoroughly investigate this incident and come up with a factual and credible result. “Show to the Filipino people that this is not extra judicial killings.”

Lawyer Leo Giron, law professor at Saint Paul’s School of Professional Studies said that Bato is a “collateral damage” in the anti-drug war.

“His only fault was to be the legal defender of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa, Sr. and son Kerwin,” Giron added.

These reactions came after Bato, the legal counsel of the Espinosas, was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds inside a Toyota Hilux pickup car with a teenage girl around 2:20 pm Tuesday.

The police identified the girl as Angelika Bonita, 17, resident of the city’s Fatima Village and Grade 9 student of Sagkahan National High School. (PNA)
FPV/SQM/LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA/EGR